Cemetery Information

Matteson Township recognizes and honors the Veterans that have been buried in our Matteson Township Cemetery as their final resting place. In honor of these veterans, memorial flags will be placed upon the Veterans Grave roughly one week prior to Memorial Day each year and removed shortly after July 4th each year. If a family wishes to place a flag on their loved ones grave at other times of the year, it is their privilege.

MATTESON CEMETERY ORDINANCE

An ordinance to protect the public health, safety and general welfare by establishing regulations relating to the operation, control, and management of cemeteries owned by the township of Matteson, Branch County, Michigan; to provide penalties for the violation of said ordinance; and to repeal all ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict therewith.

TOWNSHIP OF MATTESON, COUNTY OF BRANCH, MICHIGAN ORDAINS:

Section 1: TITLE

This ordinance shall be known and cited at the Matteson Township Cemetery Ordinance.

Section 2: DEFINITIONS OF CEMETERY LOTS AND BURIAL SPACES:

A. A cemetery lot shall consist of burial spaces to accommodate one to eight burial spaces.

B. A burial space shall consist of a land area four and one half (4-1/2) feet wide and six (6) feet in length.

Section 3: SALE OF LOTS OR BURIAL SPACES

A. Hereafter, cemetery lots or burial spaces shall be sold only to residents or taxpayers of the township for the purpose of the burial of such purchaser or his or her heirs at law or next of kin. No sale shall be made to funeral directors or others than as heretofore set forth. The township clerk, however, is hereby granted the authority to vary the aforesaid restriction on sales where the purchaser discloses sufficient personal reason for burial within the township through previous residence in the township or relationship to persons interred therein. Only one lot, consisting of not more than eight burial spaces will be permitted per person unless the township board has approved the sale of additional spaces to the same person.

B. All such sales shall be made on a form approved by the township board which grants a right of burial only and does not convey any other title to the lot or burial space sold. Such form shall be executed by the township clerk.

C. Burial rights may only be transferred to those persons eligible to be original purchasers of

cemetery lots of burial spaces within the township and may be effected only by an

endorsement or an assignment of such burial permit upon the original burial permit form

issued by the township clerk, approved by said clerk, and entered upon the official records of

said clerk. Upon such assignment, approval and record, said clerk shall issue a new burial

permit to the assignee and shall cancel and terminate upon such records the original permit

thus assigned.

Section 4: PURCHASE PRICE

A. A burial lot, consisting of eight spaces shall cost the sum of $400.00 if bought by a

township resident. Nonresidents may not purchase burial lots. One single burial spot may be bought for $50.00 for Township Residents. A half lot, consisting of four spaces shall cost a resident $200.00.

B. The foregoing charges shall be paid to the township treasurer and shall be deposited

in the cemetery fund.

C. The township board, by resolution, may periodically alter the foregoing fees to

accommodate increased costs and needed reserve funds for cemetery maintenance and acquisition.

Section 5: GRAVE OPENING CHARGES

A. The opening and closing of any burial space, prior to and following a burial therein,

and including the interment of ashes, shall be at a cost to be determined from time to

time by resolution of the township board, payable to the township. A separate price

sheet with current prices is available upon request. Prices are for standard size vault

(30 X 86, small vault (23 X 38) and cremations. There will be an additional charge

for larger then standard size.

B. No burial spaces shall be opened and closed except under the direction and control of

Cemetery sexton and/or contractor for same. This provision shall also apply to proceedings for the removal and re-interment of bodies and remains, which matters are under the supervision of the local health department. The township requires permits for all dis-interments and re-interments.

Section 6: MARKERS OR MEMORIALS

A. All markers or memorials must be of stone or other equally durable composition.

B. Any large upright monuments must be located upon a suitable foundation to maintain the monument in an erect position.

C. Only an appropriate monument, marker or memorial shall be permitted per burial space.

D. The footing or foundations upon which any monument, marker or memorial must be place shall be constructed by the township sexton and/or contractor for same at a cost to the owner of the Burial site at a then current price per square inch. Current price list is available upon request. The minimum depth of the foundation will be 24” with a 4” margin all around the marker.

Section 7: INTERNMENT REGULATIONS

A. A Vault and One (1) cremains OR two (2) cremains may be buried in one burial

Space. A parent and infant may be in same casket on one burial site.

B. Not less then 36 hour notice shall be given in advance of any time of any funeral to

Allow for the opening of the burial spaces.

C. The appropriate permit for the burial space involved, together with appropriate

Identification of the person to be buried therein, where necessary, shall be presented to the township clerk prior to internment. Where such permit has been lost or destroyed, the township clerk shall be satisfied, from his or her records, that the person to be buried in the burial space is an authorized and appropriate one before any internment is commenced or completed

D. All graves shall be located in an orderly and neat appearing manner within the

Confines of the burial space involved.

Section 8: GROUND MAINTENANCE

A. No grading, leveling or excavating upon a burial space shall be allowed without

the permission of the cemetery sexton or the township clerk.

B. No shrubs exceeding 4 foot in height, trees or vegetation of any type shall be

Planted. Any of the foregoing items planted without such approval may be removed by the township or the cemetery sexton.

C. The township board reserves the right to remove or trim any tree, plant or shrub

located within the cemetery in the interest of maintaining proper appearance and

the use of the cemetery.

D. Mounds or ornamental objects for cosmetic purposes, including fences, which hinder

the free use of a lawn mower or other gardening apparatus are prohibited.

E. The cemetery sexton shall have the right and authority to remove and dispose of any

and all growth, emblems, displays or containers therefore, that through decay, deterioration, damage or otherwise become unsightly, a source of litter or a maintenance problem.

F. Surfaces other than earth or sod are prohibited. Landscaping timbers, mulch, wood chips, stones and the like are not allowed. Killing of grass is not permitted.

G. All refuse of any kind or nature including, but not limited to, dried flowers, wreaths,

papers and flower containers must be removed or deposited in containers located within

the cemetery. PLEASE: DO NOT PUT DIRT OR POTS OF DIRT IN THESE CONTAINERS.

H. Cemetery sexton will maintain cemetery all year but will complete two thorough

Cleanups per year, one in the spring and one in the fall.

Section 9: FORFEITURE OF VACANT CEMETERY LOTS OR BURIAL SPACES

Cemetery lots or burial spaces sold after the effective date of the Ordinance and remaining vacant 40 years from the date of their sale shall automatically revert to the township upon occurrence of the following events:

A. Notice shall be sent by township clerk by first class mail to the last known address of

the last owner of record informing him of the expiration of the 40 year period and that

all rights with respect to said lots or spaces will be forfeited if he does not

affirmatively indicate in writing to the township clerk within 60 days from the date of

mailing of the within notice his desire to retain said burial rights.

B. No written response to said notice indicating a desire to retain the cemetery lots or

Burial spaces in question is received by the township clerk from the last owner of record of said lots or space or his heirs or legal representative within 60 days from the date of mailing of said notice.

Section 10: REPURCHASE OF LOTS OR BURIAL SPACES

A. The township will repurchase any cemetery lot or burial space from the owner for the

Original price paid the township up written request of said owner or his legal heirs or

Representative.

B. Sale of Lots or Graves are prohibited other than by the Township or with Township

approval. Sales/transfers by others may not be valued at more then what was originally

paid to the Township and must be approved by the Township Board.

Section 11: RECORDS

The township clerk shall maintain records concerning all burials and issuance of burial permits separate and apart from any other records of the township and the same shall be open to public inspection at all reasonable hours.

Section 12: VAULTS

All burials, with the exception of Cremations, shall be within a standard concrete vault installed or constructed in each burial space before interment. No above ground vaults or graves will be permitted. No suspended set-ups (above ground setup) may be used.

Section 13: PENALTIES

Any person, firm or corporation who violates any of the provisions of the within Ordinance shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be subject to a fine of up to $100.00 and/or imprisonment for up to 90 days in jail as may be determined by a court of competent jurisdiction. Each day that a violation continues to exist shall constitute a separate offense. Any criminal prosecutions hereunder shall not prevent civil proceedings for abatement and termination of the activity complained of.

Section 14: SEVERABILITY

The provisions of the within Ordinance are hereby declared to be severable and should any provision, section or part thereof be declared invalid or unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, such decisions shall only affect the particular provision, section or part thereof involved in such decision and shall not affect or invalidate the remainder of such Ordinance which shall continue in full force and effect.

Section 15: EFFECTIVE DATE

This Ordinance shall take effect November 3, 1993. All ordinance or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith are hereby repealed.

This Ordinance with changes takes effect December 8, 1999. All ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith are hereby repealed.

This Ordinance with changes takes effect February 14, 2001. All ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith are hereby repealed.

This Ordinance with changes takes effect October 7, 2009. All ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith are hereby repealed.